Analysis
A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 tells a straightforward story: graduates from comparable health professions bachelor's programs nationally would typically need to dedicate about eight months of their first year's salary to cover their educational debt—a manageable burden by most standards. The estimated $38,492 in first-year earnings sits right at the national median for these programs, while the projected $24,990 debt load actually runs slightly below typical borrowing levels. For a school serving a predominantly Pell-eligible population (66% of students), keeping debt below national norms while maintaining competitive salary potential represents solid execution.
The challenge here is uncertainty. With earnings and debt figures estimated from national peers rather than actual outcomes from UPR's program, parents can't know whether this specific institution outperforms or underperforms those benchmarks. Health professions is a broad category that can include everything from health information management to clinical lab science, and career trajectories vary considerably depending on which specific pathway students pursue. The comparable programs nationally suggest reasonable outcomes, but without program-specific data, you're essentially betting that UPR's execution matches the national middle.
If your child knows exactly which health profession they're targeting and has confirmed UPR offers strong preparation in that specialty, the projected debt burden shouldn't stand in the way. Just recognize you're working with educated guesses rather than proven track records.
Where University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all health professions bachelors's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs Nationally
Health Professions bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | $38,492* | — | $24,990* | — | |
| $6,638 | $72,628* | $68,341 | $19,018* | 0.26 | |
| $15,672 | $70,890* | $58,053 | $37,613* | 0.53 | |
| $31,866 | $70,566* | — | $27,801* | 0.39 | |
| $7,317 | $56,924* | $64,596 | $24,990* | 0.44 | |
| $10,791 | $56,793* | $57,659 | $29,750* | 0.52 | |
| National Median | — | $38,492* | — | $26,000* | 0.68 |
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences, approximately 66% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 44 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.